Removable safety device for disabling firearms

ABSTRACT

A universal safety device for preventing the loading of firearms, including a plug adapted to be secured to a bead chain and in frictional engagement with the chamber of the firearm, a bead chain for insertion through the barrel of the firearm and having a length in excess of the length thereof and a locking mechanism for engaging the bead chain at a location wherein the mechanism will block the end of the barrel.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,720,014 Goodrich 1MalCh 13, 1973 54] REMOVABLE SAFETY DEVICE FOR 2,983,132 5/1961 Falk ..70 49 DI ABLING FIREARMS s FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor: Robert S. Goodrich, El Sequndo,

Calif. 22,837 12/1912 Norway ..42/l N [73] Assignees: James Kalfsbeck; Peter Kalfsheck, Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt College City, Calif. Assistant ExaminerC. T. Jordan Filed: March 1971 Attorney-Townsend and Townsend [21] Appl. No.: 123,345 [57] ABSTRACT A universal safety device for preventing the loading of 52 US. Cl. ..42 1 N firearms, including a p adapted to be secured to a 51 1111. C1 ..F4lc 27/00, F410 27/08 bead main and in frictional engagement with the 58 Field of Search ..42/1N-70/30 49 312 Chamber the Team, a bead chain for through the barrel of the firearm and having a length [56] References Cited in excess of the length thereof and a locking mechanism for engaging the bead chain at a location UNITED STATES PATENTS wherein the mechanism will block the end of the barrel. 3,137,957 6/1964 Ingalls ..42/l N 2,125,052 7/1938 Ranson 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures REMOVABLE SAFETY DEVICE FOR DISABLING FIREARMS This invention relates to a universal safety device that can be quickly modified to be used with all types of firearms such as rifles, various gauged shotguns, as well as pistols and automatics having a breech including a cartridge head recess.

Various devices have been developed for insertion through the chamber and into the barrel of a firearm to prevent the gun from being loaded by single shells or cartridges or the working of any of the various mechanisms which would bring a shell from the magazine to the chamber of an automatic firearm; see US. Pat. No. 3,137,957. Such prior art devices have at best suffered from the disadvantage of only being useful with one length of gun barrel and usually with no more than one cartridge head recess size. It is a primary object of this invention to provide a safety device that can be readily adapted to any length of firearm barrel or any size of cartridge head recess.

It is a further object of this invention to utilize a unique form of combination lock that greatly minimizes the possibility of removing the lock from a bead chain to which it is attached.

Other objects of this invention as well as features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a phantom firearm showing the device of the instant invention positioned in the barrel thereof;

FIG. 2 is an expanded cross-sectional view of a portion of the bead chain;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cutaway view of the combination lock of this invention arranged to receive the bead chain;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cutaway view of the combination lock of this invention with the bead chain retained therein;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of the combination lock taken along line 6-6 ofFIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views, the device of this invention is illustrated as being positioned in the barrel 10 and cartridge receiving chamber 12 of a firearm such as a conventional rifle (shown in phantom). The device consists of plug A, bead chain B and combination lock C. Plug A and lock C can be formed most readily of a hard plastic while bead chain B is most effectively formed of metal. Other materials will be apparent to one skilled in this art.

I More specifically, plug A includes a peripheral shoulder 14, tapered sleeve 16, base 18 and recess 20 for engaging flange 22 of chain connecting member 24. Chain connecting member 24 is in turn attached to one end of bead chain B by overlapping frictional engagement with outermost bead 26. As shown in FIG. 2, bead chain B comprises a plurality of beads 26 interconnected with links 28 having enlarged ends 30, chain B being formed in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

Combination lock C is formed of body 32, pin 34, nose segment 36 and tumbler rings 38 interconnected so as to provide a torturous bead chain defining path 40 of a cross-section sufficient for insertion of bead chain B therethrough as hereinafter described. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, lock body 32 includes a series of parallel, spaced apart bores 42 within each of which is positioned a compression spring 44 and tumbler ratchet sphere 46. Body 32 is also provided with a chamber 48 for receiving the aforementioned pin 34. Also formed in body 32 are a series of parallel slots 50, preferrably aligned with the aforementioned bores 42 for receiving tumbler rings 38.

Pin 34 is formed of shaft 52 and a head portion 54 including a circumferential flange 56 provided with shoulder 58 for mating engagement with circumferential recess 60 in body 32. When shaft 52 is inserted into body 32 it will be seen to extend beyond the width thereof. Extending through pin 34 and forming a part of torturous path 40 is elongated aperture 62 generally perpendicular to slots 50. Aperture 62 extends for a length corresponding to the width of lock body 32. Aperture 62' is formed at an angle to aperture 62 in the portion of shaft 52 extending beyond body 32 to provide a further segment of path 40.

Nose segment 36 is adapted to be secured to lock body 32 and the portion of shaft 52 extending beyond the end of body 32. Nose segment 36 includes a central aperture 62" and a further void 66 corresponding in configuration for mating engagement with the aforementioned extended portion of shaft 52.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the interrelationship of one of the tumbler rings 38 to the remainder of the components of combination lock C is illustrated in greater detail. Thus, tumbler ring 38 includes a plurality of notches 70 spaced about the outer periphery thereof. In addition, ring 38 contains a single semi-circular groove 72 formed at a location opposite one of the notches 70. Notches 70 are arranged so as to interact with sphere 46 to lock ring 38 at various positions.

Combination lock 32 is assembled by first inserting each spring 44 into respective of bores 42 and thereafter positioning ratchet spheres 46 in bores 42 by depressing spring 44. While maintaining spring 44 in a compressed position, tumbler ring 38 is inserted in slots 50 and pin 34 directed into chamber 48 of body 32. Thereafter nose segment 36 is positioned over the end of shaft 52 and abutting body 32 so as to provide a continuous torturous path 40 formed of segments 62, 62' and 62". Components 32, 34 and 36 can be retained in permanent engagement in any conventional manner such as gluing and the like. As will be seen with reference to FIG. 6, the exposed surface of head 54 is provided with a series of indicia for use as hereinafter provided.

In operation, plug A is threaded onto the end of chain B having chain connecting member 24. Chain B is then inserted into barrel 10 from cartridge recess 12. Tumbler rings 38 are rotated by moving handles 68 so that each of the grooves 72 in respective of tumbler rings 38 is aligned with that portion of path 40 defined by aperture 62. When this is accomplished, bead chain B is inserted along torturous path 40 commencing from aperture 62" to 62 and out of the end of aperture 62. Bead chain B is drawn through combination lock C until tapered surface is drawn into rigid engagement with the end of barrel 10, as plug A is caused to abut recess 12. Tumbler rings 38 are then rotated by moving handles 68 so that grooves 72 are no longer aligned with opening 62. In this manner, bead chain B is prevented from being removed from lock C. Furthermore, bead chain B can only be removed when grooves 72 are again all realigned with aperture 62. As demonstrated in FIG. 6, by providing notches in each ring 38, corresponding to the numerals 1-9 and 0, and randomly forming each groove 72, there are 1,000 possible combinations of alignment of grooves 72 with three tumbler rings 38. Thus, without knowing the combination, lock C can only be opened after considerable manipulation of handles 68. Inclusion of further tumbler rings in the combination lock each expanding the possible combinations by a factor of 10.

Plug A can be formed in a range of sizes to occupy various gauges and calibers of firearms. Furthermore, member 24 can correspond to the cartridge recess opening of a 22 caliber firearm so that it can in and of itself be employed as the plug. Tapered sleeve 16 is provided with a 1 slope to ensure a tight fit within recess 12. Member 24 is provided with a similar slope for insertion into the cartridge recess of a 22 caliber firearm.

Although one embodiment of this invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that the invention is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a breech and including a cartridge head recess, comprising in combination: a flexible bead chain having a length in excess of the length of said barrel; and inwardly tapering plug adapted to be removably secured at its smaller end to one end of said chain, a portion of said plug having a diameter greater than said cartridge head recess; and a tubular combination lock adapted to be releasably secured to said bead chain at a location intermediate the ends thereof by insertion of said chain through a tortuous path in said lock, whereby when said plug is secured to said one chain end and the other end of said chain introduced through said barrel, said lock can be secured to said chain at a location corresponding to the length of said barrel to prevent introduction of a cartridge into said head recess.

2. A safety device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said combination lock includes a rotatably positionable tumbler ring, said ring including a groove adapted to be aligned with said path by manipulation of said ring to allow said chain to be inserted through said lock.

3. A safety device in accordance with claim 2 wherein realignment of said groove out of said path prevents withdrawal of said chain form said lock.

4. A safety device in accordance with claim 2 and further characterized by means for retaining said tumbler ring at a plurality of positions wherein said groove is out of alignment with said path.

5. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a breech and including a cartridge head recess, comprising in combination: a flexible bead chain having a length in excess of the length of said barrel; an inwardly tapering plug adapted to be removably secured at its smaller end to one end of said chain, a portion of said plug having a diameter greater than the diameter of said cartridge head recess; and a tubular combination lock adapted to be releasably secured to said bead chain at a location intermediate the ends thereof by insertion of said chain through a tortuous path in said lock, said combination lock including at least one rotatably positionable tumbler ring, compressed spring and sphere, said ring including a groove adapted to be aligned with said path by manipulation of said ring to allow said chain to be inserted through said lock, said ring also including a plurality of peripheral notches for retaining said tumbler ring at a corresponding plurality of positions wherein said groove is out of alignment with said path, said sphere adapted to be urged by expansion of said spring to occupy any one of said notches to temporarily retain said ring with respect to said path, whereby when said plug is secured to said one chain end and the other end of said chain end introduced through said barrel, said lock can be secured to said chain at a location corresponding to the length of said barrel to prevent introduction of a cartridge into said head recess.

6. A safety device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said lock includes a plurality of said rings. 

1. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a breech and including a cartridge head recess, comprising in combination: a flexible bead chain having a length in excess of the length of said barrel; and inwardly tapering plug adapted to be removably secured at its smaller end to one end of said chain, a portion of said plug having a diameter greater than said cartridge head recess; and a tubular combination lock adapted to be releasably secured to said bead chain at a location intermediate the ends thereof by insertion of said chain through a tortuous path in said lock, whereby when said plug is secured to said one chain end and the other end of said chain introduced through said barrel, said lock can be secured to said chain at a location corresponding to the length of said barrel to prevent introduction of a cartridge into said head recess.
 1. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a breech and including a cartridge head recess, comprising in combination: a flexible bead chain having a length in excess of the length of said barrel; and inwardly tapering plug adapted to be removably secured at its smaller end to one end of said chain, a portion of said plug having a diameter greater than said cartridge head recess; and a tubular combination lock adapted to be releasably secured to said bead chain at a location intermediate the ends thereof by insertion of said chain through a tortuous path in said lock, whereby when said plug is secured to said one chain end and the other end of said chain introduced through said barrel, said lock can be secured to said chain at a location corresponding to the length of said barrel to prevent introduction of a cartridge into said head recess.
 2. A safety device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said combination lock includes a rotatably positionable tumbler ring, said ring including a groove adapted to be aligned with said path by manipulation of said ring to allow said chain to be inserted through said lock.
 3. A safety device in accordance with claim 2 wherein realignment of said groove out of said path prevents withdrawal of said chain form said lock.
 4. A safety device in accordance with claim 2 and further characterized by means for retaining said tumbler ring at a plurality of positions wherein said groove is out of alignment with said path.
 5. A safety device for firearms having a barrel with a breech and including a cartridge head recess, comprising in combination: a flexible bead chain having a length in excess of the length of said barrel; an inwardly tapering plug adapted to be removably secured at its smaller end to one end of said chain, a portion of said plug having a diameter greater than the diameter of said cartridge head recess; and a tubular combination lock adapted to be releasably secured to said bead chain at a location intermediate the ends thereof by insertion of said chain through a tortuous path in said lock, said combination lock including at least one rotatably positionable tumbler ring, compressed spring and sphere, said ring including a groove adapted to be aligned with said path by manipulation of said ring to allow said chain to be inserted through said lock, said ring also including a plurality of peripheral notches for retaining said tumbler ring at a corresponding plurality of positions wherein said groove is out of alignment with said path, said sphere adapted to be urged by expansion of said spring to occupy any one of said notches to temporarily retain said ring with respect to said path, whereby when said plug is secured to said one chain end and the other end of said chain end introduced through said barrel, said lock can be secured to said chain at a location corresponding to the length of said barrel to prevent introduction of a cartridge into said head recess. 